August 26, 2019

BIBLE READING: II CORINTHIANS 2

1 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?

Paul makes an interesting point here. Even though his circumstances were rough, he says that he needed to be tough. No I believe Paul was probably one of the toughest individuals ever. He endured more than most of us will ever go through for the gospel. But even Paul realized that if he allowed his problems to negatively affect those around him, then that would not be a fair representation of God.

“WHO IS HE THEN THAT MAKETH GLAD”
When our burdens bring us down, they often begin to bring those around us down. Paul says that if he was brought down by his circumstances, and that in turn brought down those around him, it could almost give the effect that God does not exist. When we are barraged by burdens, that is the time that we can show to others that God is faithful. God shines brightest in the midst of our darkness. We want that to be an occasion where we can lift up Christ. Where we can show our dependency upon Him.

“I DETERMINED THIS WITH MYSELF”
Paul says I have made a decision that I am going to do my best to show my victory in Christ, not my defeat with my circumstances. This is a decision each of us must make with ourselves. It’s a personal decision. Yes times are tough, and yet circumstances are rough, but we are not going to let that bring me and everyone else down. It is not that we do not need the encouragement of others. Often times Paul writes churches and thanks them for their compassion, prayer, and support during his trials. Paul is just saying it is easy to become selfish, and self obsessed, and to allow our burdens to weigh everyone else down. We must make a decision within ourselves thank God‘s grace is sufficient, and that’s the message we want to send to others.